3 Yoga Poses to Boost Your Cycling Performance

By Lynn Burgess

Ride stronger and boost your performance with yoga. From tight hamstrings to stiff shoulders, release any tension you may get from cycling with these three poses. If you're looking for more yoga moves, sign up for a yoga class near you.

Three Yoga Poses for Cyclists

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The poses following four can be practiced at any time—before a ride, after a ride or on a break during a ride. For starters, Mountain Pose (Tadasana) elongates the spine and releases stiffness in the shoulders and upper back. Intense Side Stretch (Parsvottanasana) targets the hamstrings and the glutes, which can get tight from sitting. And, last but not least, Reclined Hand-to-Big-Toe Pose (Supta Padangusthasana) lengthens the hamstrings and opens the lower back and hips.

Intense Side Stretch (Parsvottanasana)

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Exhale, hinge at the hips, and extend your torso forward. Expect a big stretch in the left hamstring and the right calf. Move the shoulder blades down the back. Be sure that the neck is in line with the spine. To come out, engage the core, press into the back heel and raise the torso upright and back to center. Repeat on the opposite side.

Reclined Leg Stretch (Supta Padangusthasana)

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This pose will help increase flexibility in the hamstring and calf muscles and ease low-back stiffness.

How to Practice: Lie on your back, legs together. Strongly extend through the heels. Keep the left leg tunneling into the ground as you bend the right knee and draw it into the chest. Place a strap around the arch of the right foot and hold the strap loosely in both hands.

Reclined Leg Stretch (Supta Padangusthasana)

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Exhale and extend the right leg straight up. Walk your hands up the strap until the elbows are fully extended. Keep the neck relaxed.

Lengthen the back of the leg between the buttock bone and heel. Try not to be overly enthusiastic about pulling your leg toward your chest. Instead, emphasize the grounding of your left leg as you draw your arms back into their sockets.

Hold for 30 seconds, breathing evenly. Slowly release. Repeat on the left side.

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